“Now your, stocking’s as good as new,” said he, bowing very low.
“Thank you so very much,” said Margaret truly grateful. Then he hurried away to his place in the needle-book.
“Isn’t he a nice old fellow?” said Margaret to Sir Bodkin when Doctor Darner had gone.
“Indeed he is, even if he is a little gruff in his manner at times,” replied the King.
“Mother always wanted me to learn how to mend my stockings and I never would. Now she’ll be so pleased when I show this one to her mended instead of torn. Mothers have a lot of unpleasant things to look at sometimes, don’t they?” she asked the tiny King, who was walking up and down the table-top in a very kingly manner.
“Indeed they do, My Lady,” he replied, “but I don’t think your mother will have as many now as she had before you met us.”
“That’s so. I mean to ask her to let me try to darn one of her stockings and one of Father’s socks, soon. But I am afraid it will be a long time before I want to try one of Brother’s. He does get the worst holes in his that I ever saw!” she said shaking her head.
“Boys are that way and have been ever since I can remember. But just make up your mind some day to try one of his and I am sure you’ll find it easier than you expected.” Sir Bodkin smiled wisely at his little mistress. He knew boys, but he also knew that Margaret was a very brave little girl who wouldn’t let a big hole in a stocking frighten her.
“Thank you, Sir Bodkin. I won’t forget what you say. I’ll run off now and show Mother how smart I’ve been,” she said as she limped out of the room. In a second Sir Bodkin heard her running along the hall just as usual.